POLL

An overwhelming majority of readers who voted in an Orange County Register online poll Tuesday believe the San Juan Capistrano petting zoo that placed a 13-foot-tall replica dinosaur on its property should be allowed to keep it, despite calls from some area residents for it to be removed because it violates the city's character.

As of Wednesday morning, more than 320 people had voted in the poll, with 84 percent saying Zoomars Petting Zoo should be allowed to keep the dinosaur and 15 percent saying it should be removed. One percent answered "not sure."

Carolyn Franks, owner of Zoomars at 31719 Los Rios St., spoke during Tuesday night's City Council meeting and said she installed the 40-foot-long statue of an apatosaurus as an attraction for children. It is part of a play area.

"With more than 2,000 visitors a week, we must find new ways to educate and entertain children," Franks said.

The Capistrano Historical Alliance Committee, a group of longtime residents with ties to local historical families, is demanding the dinosaur's immediate removal. Jerry Nieblas, the group's president, said in an email circulated Friday that "the dinosaur is offensive; (it) makes a mockery of the history of San Juan Capistrano and violates the sacred land and memories that represent all of what Los Rios Street is."

"We have made our position quite clear to the council via email and will be awaiting word from them at this point," Nieblas said Tuesday.

The $12,000 statue was placed at the zoo June 13, and less than 24 hours later, the city government received complaints.

The dinosaur was installed without zoning approval and building permits, according to Grant Taylor, director of development services. He called the matter an open code-enforcement investigation and said no fines have been issued so far.

Nieblas criticized the city for allowing the dinosaur to stay this long, saying it should be removed immediately.

City Council members did not comment about the issue Tuesday night as they await an assessment from city staff.

"We at Zoomars wish to thank the people who support us," Franks said. "The apatosaurus and fossil-digging activity is an outstanding learning opportunity for children to explore archaeology and prehistoric life in our area."

ONLINE COMMENTS

Here are some readers' comments posted in response to the Register's original article about the Zoomars dinosaur:

• "The Los Rios historical community is on the National Register of Historic Places. The whole neighborhood! Have you ever visited? The dino is completely inappropriate there. Zoomars is a petting zoo, not a Disney-like attraction. The point being they tried to do this without city permits and the proper vetting. It would have been denied at the beginning of the process." – Linda Ivanov

• "I am a former resident of San Juan Capistrano and somewhat familiar with Mr. Nieblas. It's in a play area, for crying out loud! Let the children enjoy it! Some Scrooges have way too much time on their hands! It will not interfere at all with the history of the city." – Judy Westphal

• "This goes right along with the theme-park atmosphere that the city and the mission seem to be embracing. San Juan is a beautiful serene, historic and religious community. These new people – and, yes, I mean new people – come here and try to turn this into a theme park where all they care about is the almighty dollar. They have no clue about what San Juan is all about! The dinosaur belongs in some museum somewhere else where he would be welcomed and appreciated. San Juan is not his home!" – MaryAnne Lanssens

This newly installed 13-foot-tall, 40-foot-long dinosaur statue at Zoomars Petting Zoo on San Juan Capistrano's Los Rios Street has drawn strong objections from the Capistrano Historical Alliance Committee. PAUL BERSEBACH, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
James Bright, 6, of Lake Forest climbs on a playground in front of a 13-foot-tall dinosaur replica that was put up at Zoomars Petting Zoo on Los Rios Street in San Juan Capistrano. The Capistrano Historical Alliance Committee has strongly objected to the statue. PAUL BERSEBACH, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
This 13-foot-tall replica apatosaurus at Zoomars Petting Zoo has been called "offensive" and a "mockery of the history of San Juan Capistrano" by the Capistrano Historical Alliance Committee, a group of longtime residents linked to local historical families. PAUL BERSEBACH, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
This 13-foot-tall, 40-foot-long apatosaurus replica is in a play area at Zoomars Petting Zoo on Los Rios Street in San Juan Capistrano. PAUL BERSEBACH, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Reinier Vantonder, from San Diego, feeds a carrot to a zedonk, a cross between a donkey and a zebra, as a 13-foot dinosaur stands in the background at Zoomars Petting Zoo on Los Rios Street in San Juan Capistrano. The Capistrano Historical Alliance Committee is objecting to the dinosaur. PAUL BERSEBACH, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Much of the 18th-century Los Rios Historic District, known as California's oldest continuously inhabited neighborhood, remains true to its history. The Capistrano Historical Alliance Committee objects to a 13-foot dinosaur that was put on the property at Zoomars Petting Zoo on Los Rios Street. PAUL BERSEBACH, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Capistrano Historical Alliance Committee is objecting to a 13-foot dinosaur that was put on the property at Zoomars Petting Zoo on Los Rios Street in San Juan Capistrano. PAUL BERSEBACH, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
J.J. Bays, 3, of San Juan Capistrano, checks out a 13-foot dinosaur that was put up at Zoomars Petting Zoo on Los Rios Street in San Juan Capistrano. The Capistrano Historical Alliance Committee is objecting to the dinosaur. PAUL BERSEBACH, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A 13-foot tall dinosaur is seen through a playhouse window at Zoomars Petting Zoo on Los Rios Street in San Juan Capistrano. PAUL BERSEBACH, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Much of the 18th-century Los Rios Historic District, known as California's oldest continuously inhabited neighborhood, remains true to its history. PAUL BERSEBACH, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Jose Mendoza is seen cleaning animal pens through the legs of a 13-foot dinosaur that was put up at Zoomars Petting Zoo on Los Rios Street in San Juan Capistrano. The Capistrano Historical Alliance Committee is objecting to the dinosaur. PAUL BERSEBACH, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Much of the 18th-century Los Rios Historic District, known as California's oldest continuously inhabited neighborhood, remains true to its history. PAUL BERSEBACH, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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